Press Release
16 May 2013

We are deeply concerned about the so-called “face-lift project” that is currently underway in Barkhor and the old town area of Tibet’s capital Lhasa.

Apparently, for this project China is investing 196 million US dollar to upgrade “infrastructure” in the old town of Lhasa. However, according to recent reports, it confirms that the actual plan is to completely transform the Jokhang and Barkhor area which is of great spiritual and cultural heritage of Tibetans for more than a thousand year, into a superficial tourist spot.

Fearing this inevitability under Chinese regime, the Central Tibetan Administration in the past had pleaded many times with the UNESCO and other organizations for the inclusion of Jokhang and Barkhor area in the World Heritage list. We strongly urge the Chinese leadership to stop destructing one of the last remnants of spiritual, cultural and social centre of Tibet.  

Media contacts:

Mr Tashi Phuntsok, DIIR Secretary, +91 98050 22510
Mr Tsering Wangchuk, Press Officer, +91 98827 28337